Noah’s Shame and Canaan’s Curse

18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.

20 Now Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded [fn] to plant a vineyard. 21 But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.

23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.

24 When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Cursed be Canaan!

A servant of servants

shall he be to his brothers.”